MORE MODEST ROLE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 135, 5 December 1944, Page 8

MORE MODEST ROLE

VISITORS' SMALLER POOL

The North Island contingent played a much more modest role at Riccarton on Saturday in comparison with their opening day's effort of- six wins and M minor placings (inclusive of fourths where stake-money was attached) Actually, on Saturday they won only two events, and one -was in a deadheat. They were* second three times tnird on four occasions, and fourth the nrst day they had to be content with £1737 10s last Saturday, when the aggregate offered was £6730 For visitors to annex £66C. 10s out of a grand aggregate of £16,180 at. the &r- W however, quite satisfac-tory-.Without doubt the changed track conditions proved most upsetting, sevel 5> f l^u ion? horses uite failing to Handle the going, which was apt to shift on the surface. i« »•" Grand Performance—Although he had to bo content with sharing the honours in the Metropolitan Handicap with a horse who had not previously given any real indication that she could stay there was a lot of merit in Typhoons performance at Riccarton During the race his bit slipped through his mouth and H. N. Wiggins had no easy task at the helm. For a horse with his stride the Defoe seldina handled the going weL. <f Nearly Surprised.—The Wingatui trainer D. P. Wilson nearly brought off a complete surprise in the Metropolitan Handicap with First In, for this, mare had not won previously over longer than one mile. The major portion of her racing has been over sprint distances, but she did win once over a mile as a hack and had scored at Invercargili a week before the opening of the Riccarton Meeting. In the Riccarton Handicap, 9 furlongs, on the opening day she was beaten into eighth, yet ran out the. mile and ahalf on the second day in good style. Being from the Tea Taay mare Gobble, who was by Absurd from Fulsome, the grandam a daughter of Eulogy, First In's breeding suggests sprinting rather than staying, but her sire, Siegfried (by Son-in-Law) brings to her staying power and a liking for soft ground. A Genuine Stayer.—That Pensacoia has developed into a grand colt he demonstrated in the Derby Stakes on the opening day &t Riccarton, when courage and determination enabled him to get up and win the three-year-old classic. In the.Canterbury Cup, when he had a substantial weight advantage over the older horses, his rider was enterprising enough to take him to the front at barrier rise and he was never headed. The Golden ■■ Eagle gelding handled the going excellently and over, the final furlong never looked like getting caught. There was some doubt earlier in his career whether he was a genuine stayer,' but this he definitely discounted each day at Riccarton. Too Late.—Glenfalloch, runner-up to Pensacola in the Canterbury Cup, was standing up the leaders considerable ground approaching the straight entrance; indeed, W. F. Ellis, the rider of Royal Lancer, who had been doing lit three horses out all the way, moved 'first. When W. J. Broughton did urge Glenfalloch the Kincardine responded generously, ■ his great raking strides carrying him past Royal Lancer and Colais, but he had no hope of reaching Pensacola.

Younger Winners.—Winners of the Derby Stakes who have gone on to add the Canterbury Cup under weight-for-age are becoming comparatively numerous; indeed, between 1932 and 1938 no fewer than five of the younger division took the honours. Those winners of the age were Silver Scorn, Nightly, Sporting Blood, and Wild Chase, who scored" in successive years, but Cuddle broke the sequence in 1937. However, Defaulter stepped in twelve months later. Pensacola's success gave the three-year-olds their first win for six years.

Slow Away.—ln the Canterbury Cup Colais was slow to move and brought up the rear of a strung-out field till a little more than half a mile from home. He ran past the bunch to be attending Pensacola at the straight entrance. Momentarily it looked as though the North Islander would play a leading role, but he could not hold Pensacola and was finally beaten into third, a head'in front of Royal Lancer, who covered a lot of extra ground throughout. '

Made Amends.—-Beaten into sixth in the Middleton Handicap on the opening day at Riccarton after meeting with a check swinging towards the straight, Foxchase was installed favourite for the Suburban Handicap on Saturday. The easing of the track enhanced his prospects, and he won with a good deal in hand. Since being purchased by the Auckland sportsman Mr. M. J. Moodabe, Foxchase has won twice, whereas his previous owner found his luck right out.

Revelled In Going.—Two Southlanders found track conditions quite, to their liking in the high weight event at Riccarton on Saturday, and although neither had a, chance with Foxchase they lought a keen duel for second. Red Prize, after making the play right into the straight, was beaten on the post by Prize Ring, who is building up a sequence of minor placings.

Northerners Fail.—Awapuni stables supplied three runners, Solver, Bay Robe, and Ascot Bloom, and Trentham one, Lord Broiefort, in the Suburban Handicap, 1^- miles, at Riccarton on Saturday, but the least-fancied candidate, Bay Robe, made the best showing. This Rqbemond gelding was up with Red- Prize at the .entrance, but was outs.tayed in the run home. Ascot Bloom again failed to begin smartly and was a long way back with seven furlongs to go.. He did make up some of the leeway, but never looked like filling a place.